Man accused of Tom O’Gorman murder remanded to Central Mental Hospital

A man charged with the murder of 39-year-old Tom O'Gorman has been remanded in custody in the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin.

Saverio Bellante, a 34-year-old Italian national from Palermo in Sicily, but with an address at Beechpark Avenue, Castleknock, west Dublin, was initially brought before Blanchardstown District Court on Monday to face the murder charge.

He was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison, Clondalkin, Dublin, and was due to appear before the courts again yesterday. But since his last appearance he has been transferred to the Central Mental Hospital.

He is accused of murdering Mr O’Gorman late last Saturday night or early on Sunday morning in the Castleknock home where he lived as the deceased’s lodger.

Media warning
Judge Victor Blake at Cloverhill District Court

heard that correspondence relating to the accused had been received from Dr Paul O’Connell at the Central Mental Hospital.

Solicitor Michael Staines for Mr Bellante asked the judge if he would warn the media they needed to be careful when reporting on the case.

He told the court there had already been a large amount of publicity, adding the sub-judice rule had already been broken.

Legal aid application
Mr Staines also made an application to the court for memos and video records of interviews with his client to date and applied for free legal aid.

The judge said he preferred to have a statement of means before granting free legal aid and put that matter back to the next court appearance in a fortnight. But he said if legal aid was granted it could be backdated to the current period.

Solicitor Rachel Joyce for the Director of Public Prosecutions said there was "no reality" to the possibility the Garda would have the full file on the case ready by the time the matter was heard again on Friday, January 31st. She requested the case be put in for mention on that date. The judge agreed.